asked the Minister for Education the vocational schools which are situated in the Dublin North West area; the night attendances at these schools during the years 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969; and whether any difficulties are being experienced in the recruitment of teachers for (a) night classes in these schools and (b) full time day classes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers (Resumed). - Dublin Vocational Schools.
113.
The vocational schools situated in the Dublin north west area are Cabra West and Finglas West schools. The average night attendances in these schools during the years 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, were as follows:
|
Year |
Cabra West |
Finglas West |
|
1966 |
283 |
139 |
|
1967 |
176 |
106 |
|
1968 |
51 |
89 |
|
1969 |
30 |
72 |
I understand from the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee that they are not experiencing difficulty in recruiting teachers for either day or night classes at these schools.
Would the Minister like to comment on why the number of attendances at Cabra West school in 1966 was 283 and in 1969 was 30?
There are a number of reasons. One is that the Cabra West school in 1967-68 became a boys' school. That meant that a number of night school subjects that would be of interest to women—domestic science, typewriting and so on—were removed from the curriculum. I should imagine that was one of the reasons why there was a very considerable drop in attendance. I am also told that there is a tendency to enrol in centre city schools.
Would the Minister like to comment on the drop in attendance at the Finglas West school from 139 to 72 in the past four years to 1969?
Again, it probably had something to do with the tendency to enrol in centre city schools but at this moment I have no further information.
Does the Minister think there is any shortage of teachers?
I am told there is not. They had some difficulties in the past but I do not think that that is so at present. Some difficulty was experienced last year in Cabra West in getting science and mathematics teachers and Irish and general subject teachers, but the school is fully staffed this year and Finglas West is also fully staffed.